| 6 | Dundee | 31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | -10 | 39 |
| 7 | Hibernian | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | -7 | 38 |
| 8 | Motherwell | 32 | 8 | 12 | 12 | -5 | 36 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 32 | 8 | 10 | 14 | -5 | 34 |
| 10 | St Johnstone | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | -20 | 31 |
Aberdeen v Motherwell can be watched worldwide on Saturday.
If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the Scottish Premiership match can be bought from Aberdeen FC for £12.99 at ppv.afc.co.uk.
International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.
Kick-off at Pittodrie on Saturday is at 3pm.
Motherwell travel to Aberdeen on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.
Here are the headlines going into the fixture.
New manager Graham Alexander has overseen two score draws in his first two matches in charge of Motherwell.
In both games, the Steelmen have been pegged back. Devante Cole opened the scoring in the clashes with St Mirren and Rangers, before second-half equalisers in both resulted in 1-1 draws.
Motherwell ended 2020 with a 100% record at Pittodrie, having won both matches in the north east.
In January, a Liam Donnelly header secured a 1-0 win in the first league game back after the winter break.
Then, earlier in the 2020/21 campaign, goals from Mark O’Hara, Christopher Long and Bevis Mugabi sealed an emphatic 3-0 win.
Since that reversal to Motherwell in September, Derek McInnes’ side form at Pittodrie has been impressive.
Five wins, draws with Celtic and Dundee United and a sole loss to Rangers has been the run for the Dons, scoring 16 and conceding nine.
Our matches with Kilmarnock and St Mirren have been rescheduled for midweek dates in February.
On Wednesday 10 February, we will travel to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Two weeks later on Wednesday 24 February, we’ll make the trip to take on St Mirren in a 6pm kick-off.
Information on how to watch both games will be made available shortly.
Motherwell are back on their travels with a trip to face Aberdeen.
After consecutive 1-1 draws against St Mirren and Rangers, Graham Alexander goes in search of a first win as ‘Well boss.
Kick-off at Pittodrie on Saturday is at 3pm.
If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the match can be bought from Aberdeen FC for £12.99 at ppv.afc.co.uk.
International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.
The two sides played out a 0-0 draw last time out, with the stalemate at Fir Park coming just before Christmas.
Motherwell won on their last visit to Pittodrie in September, with Bevis Mugabi, Christopher Long and Mark O’Hara all netting in a 3-0 victory.
Aberdeen are without a win in three. Their 4-1 away loss to Ross County at the weekend followed a 2-1 home reversal to Rangers and a 0-0 draw with Dundee United previously.
At home, the Dons have won six of their last 10 in the Premiership, drawing two and losing two.
Motherwell’s 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday made it two games undefeated for new manager Alexander.
The Steelmen, however, remain without a win in 11 league matches, drawing five and losing six.
“I’m proud of the team. We’re content with a point but we could have taken all three.”
Graham Alexander reacts as Motherwell take a well-earned point at home to Rangers.
The entire length of the Scottish Premiership separated the sides when Motherwell and Rangers kicked off on Sunday.
But after an engaging game, there was little to split the teams, with Devante Cole and Cedric Itten netting in a 1-1 draw.
New ‘Well boss Graham Alexander admitted that although his men would need to defend against the league leaders, he expected them to land some punches during the 90 minutes.
He only had to wait 20 minutes for his new charges to deliver their first blow, Cole sliding the ball past Allan McGregor to give the home side a deserved lead.
However, the new boss was denied steering Motherwell to their first league win over Rangers in 18 years when Cedric Itten nodded home the equaliser 18 minutes from time to give the sides a deserved point apiece.
Alexander, making his debut in the home dugout, made two changes from the side which earned a point at Paisley last week. With Mark O’Hara injured and Jake Hastie unable to face his parent club, Robbie Crawford and Sherwin Seedorf came into the starting line-up.
On loan ‘keeper Liam Kelly faces his first club, while Steven Lawless, on his return to Fir Park has to do with a place on the bench.
Steven Gerrard’s side, having dropped only four points in an almost invincible league run, started the game with the clear intention of taking full points to strengthen their position at the top of the table.
It was the home side, though, that made the more positive start and within four minutes Allan Campbell had wriggled his way to the edge of the box but his trundled shot was only enough to provide Allan McGregor with a comfortable save.
A series of corners and crosses from James Tavernier threatened to test the ‘Well rearguard but strict man-marking in the home box meant that Kelly was not called upon.
Motherwell’s plan of pressing Rangers further upfield forced the visitors to keep their central defenders 20 yards inside their own half. That allowed Seedorf and Tony Watt and the tireless Cole to keep the Gers’ defenders occupied.
And with 20 minutes played ‘Well cut open the Rangers’ defence as they opened the scoring.
Watt played a smart exchange with Liam Polworth at the corner of the box before working his way to the byline. His drive across the six-yard box found Cole, sliding in front of Campbell to force the ball over the line and put the home side one up.
The Ibrox side then had the majority of the possession towards the home box but on every occasion their ball into the box was blocked by the first ‘Well defender.
A final Tavernier corner in added-on time summed up the first half as it was easily cleared by a diligent ‘Well defence, leaving goalkeeper Kelly without a single save to make.
It took Rangers only seven minutes into the second half to finally test their former ‘keeper but it was routine for Kelly kneeling to gather Ryan Kent’s 20-yard drive.
Three minutes later the former Livingston ‘keeper was relieved to see Bevis Mugabi on the goal line to head away Conor Goldson’s netbound header.
As the half progressed the ‘Well players were being forced deeper into their own half and having to defend an increasing number of crosses into their goalmouth.
By the 70th minute, Alexander attempted to relieve some of that pressure making a double substitution bringing on attack-minded Ross Maciver and Lawless.
Almost immediately Kelly was forced to block Goldson’s shot. A goal was coming Rangers’ way and it finally arrived in the 72nd minute.
Another Barisic cross into the home box found Itten unmarked and looking in an offside position six yards from goal and his powerful header sped beyond Kelly for the equaliser.
With ten minutes remaining and the home goal under continuous assault, ‘Well changed to a back three Ricki Lamie replacing Polworth.
Both managers made further substitutions and it was Rangers’ veteran striker Jermain Defoe who had the final attempt at goal but his shot was firmly held by Kelly as both teams had to settle for a point.
“I want to try things others wouldn’t, and create things other people don’t see coming.”
The returning Motherwell forward sets out his stall ahead of the visit of Rangers on Sunday.
“We are trying to implement how we want our team to play, regardless of the opponent.
“I want to see my players, as a team, going out and giving it their best.”
Graham Alexander looks ahead to Sunday’s visit of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
Steven Lawless has returned to Motherwell on a permanent deal.
The academy graduated has signed until the end of the 2021/22 season, coming back to the club where he made his professional debut in 2011.
He will go into the squad for the visit of Rangers on Sunday.
“It’s great to be back,” said the forward, who wear the number 14 jersey.
“It means a lot to me to be coming back to the club. I’m ready to get going and play my part in trying to get the team up the table.”
The 29-year-old joined Burton in the summer after a successful two-year spell at Livingston, where he made 75 appearances in the Premiership.
Prior to that, Lawless was a mainstay in the Partick Thistle team who spent five years in the top flight with him in the side, playing 228 times.
His career at Motherwell prior to that saw him score on his debut in a 4-0 League Cup win at Clyde in August 2011, making two appearances in claret and amber and spending time during his development at Albion Rovers.
“Steven will add creativity to the team,” manager Graham Alexander said. “We’re delighted to get him on board.
“He can help us at the top end of the pitch, being that link between the defensive side of the game and the forwards.
“He’s got good guile, the experience of playing up here and obviously was here as a young boy.
“When I spoke to him, his want to be here was a big pull for me as well. We want players who want to be here. He’s certainly shown that aspiration.”
It has been a month of change at Motherwell FC.
Defeat to Kilmarnock led to manager Stephen Robinson’s decision to call it a day at the club, much to the surprise and shock of everyone in ML1.
Club legend Keith Lasley had the task of keeping the show on the road away to local rivals Hamilton Academical soon after, as the Steelmen tried to put a gap between themselves and the foot of the Scottish Premiership table.
With a January transfer window already open, the club could not wait around to find Stephen Robinson’s replacement.
Enter former Scotland international Graham Alexander, last with Salford City, to take over the reins and immediately try and breathe life into the team ahead of a difficult trip to St Mirren.
Young defender Max Johnston has stood out since coming into the first-team plans in the summer.
The son of former footballer Allan Johnston is a promising full-back from the Motherwell academy, and is pushing to be in contention for his debut, despite having just turned 17.
It was also squad photo day at the club in December. Covid-19 restrictions meant the whole group couldn’t get together for the traditional photograph, so the team had to get creative.
